Voltage surge protection device

Abstract

The voltage surge protection device comprises at least one protection module designed to be connected to an electric switchgear apparatus. The protection module comprises at least one protective element for protection against voltage surges and separating means connected to at least one protective element to cause an electrical and/or mechanical separation representative of a fault of a protective element following an increase of temperature and/or electric current. The protection module comprises means for mechanical actuation connected to said separating means and comprising a mechanical control link. The electrical control link is placed in a tripped state representative of a fault of at least one protective element when said separating means have caused a separation.

1. Voltage surge protection device comprising at least one protection module connectable to an electric switchgear apparatus, a unit comprising said at least one protection module and said electric switchgear apparatus connectable between a power line and ground, such a power line being connected to a load, said at least one protection module comprising:
 at least one protective element connectable to ground for protection against voltage surges, such that when the protective element fails due to a voltage surge, an increase in at least one of temperature and electric current results at said protective element; 
 separating means connected to said protective element for generating at least one of an electrical and mechanical separation of said protective element from said power line, without disconnecting such a power line from such a load connected to the failed protective element, upon detecting such increase of at least one of temperature and electric current; and 
 means for mechanical actuation connected to said separating means and comprising a mechanical control link, said mechanical control link for being placed in a tripped state when said protective element fails and when said separating means have generated such mechanical or electrical separation, 
 wherein said means for mechanical actuation is connectable to the electric switchgear apparatus by means of the mechanical control link for actuating opening or tripping of said apparatus when said mechanical link is in a tripped state. 
 
   
   
     2. The voltage surge protection device according to  claim 1 , wherein the means for mechanical actuation is capable of disabling the mechanical control link when the mechanical control link is in a tripped state caused by separation of said separating means. 
   
   
     3. The voltage surge protection device according to  claim 1  wherein the separating means comprise at least one thermal pin, and the at least one protective element is at least a varistor in thermal connection with said thermal pin, said thermal pin being connected to the means for mechanical actuation to place the mechanical control link in a tripped state following melting of said thermal pin caused by heating of said varistor. 
   
   
     4. The voltage surge protection device according to  claim 1  wherein the separating means comprise at least one electrical fuse, and the at least one protective element is at least one discharge tube in electrical connection with the electrical fuse of the separating means, said fuse being connected to the means for mechanical actuation to place the mechanical control link in a tripped state following melting of said fuse caused by an increase of the current in said discharge tube. 
   
   
     5. The voltage surge protection device according to  claim 4  wherein the separating means comprise at least one thermal pin and at least one fuse, and the means for mechanical actuation comprise centralizing means for receiving a mechanical input from at least one of the thermal pins and fuses of the separating means upon melting of at least one of said thermal pins and fuses, and for actuating the control link in response to such mechanical input. 
   
   
     6. The voltage surge protection device according to  claim 1  wherein the means for mechanical actuation comprise:
 at least one lever connected to the separating means and to the mechanical control link, and 
 at least one return spring connected to said lever and to a case of the protection module to return said lever to a fault position when an element of the separating means releases the lever following a mechanical separation due to thermal or electrical stresses, said mechanical control link being actuated and kept in a tripped state by the lever when it is in a fault position. 
 
   
   
     7. The voltage surge protection device according to  claim 1  wherein the separating means comprise at least a combination of an electric fuse element and a thermal pin, mechanical separation of the electric fuse element or of the thermal pin being able to cause actuation of the means for mechanical actuation. 
   
   
     8. The voltage surge protection device according to  claim 1  wherein the separating means comprise at least one thermal pin made of metal alloy or of thermofusible plastic material, a first arm connected to said thermal pin, and a second arm connected to said first arm, and
 melting or fusing of the pin causes a mechanical separation of the first arm from the thermal pin, such that the first arm causes the second arm to act on the means for mechanical actuation. 
 
   
   
     9. The voltage surge protection device according to  claim 1  wherein the separating means comprise an electric fuse element comprising a metal blade positioned in arc distribution fins. 
   
   
     10. The voltage surge protection device according to  claim 1  wherein at the least one protection module comprises mechanical display means for displaying the operating state of the protection device, said display means comprising the mechanical control link. 
   
   
     11. The voltage surge protection device according to  claim 1  wherein the at least one protection module comprises mechanical means for displaying the operating state of the protection device actuated by the mechanical control link. 
   
   
     12. The voltage surge protection device according to  claim 1  wherein the at least one protection module comprises at least two protective elements and mechanical means for local display actuated by the actuating means to indicate the state of the separating means of the at least two protective elements in differentiated manner. 
   
   
     13. The voltage surge protection device according to  claim 1  comprising an electric switchgear apparatus in conjunction with said protection module, said electric switchgear apparatus comprising inputs designed to be connected to a line to be protected, main contacts controlled by a trip mechanism, and outputs, said at least one protective element against voltage surges being connected to the outputs of the switchgear apparatus and the mechanical control link being connected to the trip means to actuate opening and/or to block closing of the main contacts of the electric switchgear apparatus when said mechanical link is in a tripped state representative of a fault of the at least one protective element. 
   
   
     14. The voltage surge protection device according to  claim 13  wherein said protection module comprises mechanical means for displaying the operating state of the protection module mechanically linked to an operating handle of the electric switchgear apparatus. 
   
   
     15. The voltage surge protection device according to  claim 13  comprising a second protection module comprising second means for mechanical actuation and a second mechanical control link to act on tripping of the switchgear apparatus, the second mechanical link acting on the trip mechanism of the switchgear apparatus via a first mechanical link of a first protection module. 
   
   
     16. The voltage surge protection device according to  claim 15  wherein the electric switchgear apparatus is a four-pole switchgear apparatus, outputs of a first and second pole receiving connection of protective elements of said first protection module and outputs of a third and fourth pole receiving connection of protective elements of said second additional protection module. 
   
   
     17. The voltage surge protection device according to  claim 13  comprising an auxiliary electric device associated with said protection module to receive actions or to actuate a mechanical tripping link. 
   
   
     18. The voltage surge protection device according to  claim 13  wherein the switchgear apparatus and the protection modules are modular and coupled via a lateral side. 
   
   
     19. The voltage surge protection device according to  claim 13  wherein the switchgear apparatus is a molded case circuit breaker and the protection module is mounted on output terminals down-line from said circuit breaker, said trip means designed to receive an action from the mechanical link being situated on a down-line side of said circuit breaker.